[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1555-1556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00363]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD607]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of hybrid meeting open to the public offering both in-
person and virtual options for participation.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a 4-day hybrid meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of 
Mexico fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will convene Monday, January 29 through Thursday, 
February 1, 2024, 8:30 a.m.--5 p.m., CST daily.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will take place at Hyatt Centric 
French Quarter, located at 800 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA 70112.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 4107 W. 
Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Carrie Simmons, Executive 
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Monday, January 29, 2024; 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m., CST

    The meeting will begin with the Administrative/Budget Committee 
reviewing and discussing the Proposed Standing and Special Scientific 
and Statistical Committee (SSC) Reorganization for June 2024 
Appointments, Ad Hoc and Standing Advisory Panels, Proposed 2024 
Activities and Budget, and the 2020-2023 Administrative Award 
Anticipated Funding and Proposed Carryover Projects. The committee will 
review and approve Proposal Activities for Phase II Inflation Reduction 
Act Funding for the Regional Management Councils and finalize the 
Steering Committee makeup for the Recreational Initiative.
    The Law Enforcement Committee will review summaries from the Law 
Enforcement Technical Committee discussion on Red Snapper Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Advanced Landings Notifications and additional 
topics.
    The Data Collection Committee will receive a summary report from 
the Ad Hoc Charter For-hire Data Collection Advisory Panel meeting 
including recommendations and next steps for For-hire Electronic 
Reporting. Hold a discussion on Marine Recreational Information 
Program-Fishing Effort Survey (MRIP-FES) Inventory and Action Plan for 
the Gulf of Mexico and receive an update on the Status of the Timeline 
on the Implementation of the Commercial Logbooks.
    The Shrimp Committee will receive an update on Early Adopter 
Program for Shrimp Cellular Vessel Monitoring Systems (cVMS) and 
discuss Shrimp Future Project: Workshops to Address Current Challenges 
and Future Scenario Planning.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024; 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m., CST

    The Reef Fish Committee will review and discuss draft options for 
Modification of Mid-Water Snapper Complex Composition and Catch Limits, 
Gag Grouper Management Measures and Final Action: Draft Abbreviated 
Framework Action: Modifications to Catch Limits for Gulf of Mexico Lane 
Snapper. The committee will also review Permit Requirements for 
Participation in Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs and review the 
2023 Gulf Red Grouper Recreational Landings and Quota Closure.
    The Sustainable Fisheries Committee will discuss Allocations and 
Allocation Review Policy and Summary of SSC Discussion on Incorporation 
Social Science Theory and methods in Ecosystem Assessments.
    Immediately following the Sustainable Fisheries Committee, National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will Host a General Question and Answer 
Session.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CST

    The Outreach and Education Committee will review the 2023 
Communications Improvement Plan Progress and 2023 Analytics, 2023 In-
Person Event Outreach Progress and 2024 Plan, and Communications 
Guidelines Book Review. The committee will discuss Fishery Ecosystem 
Plan Outreach, Coastal Migratory Pelagics Stakeholder Engagement and 
Management Timeline Tool. The committee will receive an update on 
Return `Em Right Best Practices Manual and review other items from the 
O&E Technical Committee Summary.
    At approximately 10:45 a.m., CST, the Council will reconvene with a 
Call to Order, Announcements and Introductions, Adoption of Agenda and 
Approval of Minutes. The Council will receive updates on NMFS National 
Seafood Strategy Regional Implementation Plan, update from Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development in the Gulf 
of Mexico and Opportunities to Advance Equity and Environmental Justice 
(EEJ) in Gulf of Mexico Fisheries through the Southeast EEJ 
Implementation Plan; and, discuss Exempted Fishing Permit Application.
    Following lunch, the Council will hold public comment testimony 
from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., CST for Final Action Item: Draft Abbreviated 
Framework Action: Modifications to Catch Limits for Gulf of Mexico Lane 
Snapper, receive comments on the Southeast EEJ Implementation Plan and 
Exempted Fishing Permit Application; including, open testimony on other 
fishery issues or concerns. Public comment may begin earlier than 1:30 
p.m. CST but will not conclude before that time. Persons wishing to 
give public testimony in-person must register at the registration kiosk 
in the meeting room. Persons wishing to give public testimony virtually 
must sign up via the link on the Council website. Registration for 
virtual testimony is open at the start of the meeting, Monday, January 
29, at 8:30 a.m., CST and closes 1 hour before public

[[Page 1556]]

testimony begins on Wednesday, January 31, at 12:30 p.m. CST. Public 
testimony may end before the published agenda time if all registered 
in-person and virtual participants have completed their testimony.

Thursday, February 1, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CST

    The Council will receive Committee reports from Administrative/
Budget, Law Enforcement, Data Collection, Shrimp, Reef Fish, 
Sustainable Fisheries, Education and Outreach, and recommendations on 
Exempted Fishing Permit Application. The Council will receive updates 
from the following supporting agencies: Louisiana Law Enforcement 
Efforts; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; NOAA Office of Law 
Enforcement (OLE); Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; U.S. Coast 
Guard; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Department of State.
    The Council will discuss Council Planning and Primary Activities 
and Other Business items, Litigation Update.
Meeting Adjourns
    The meeting will be a hybrid meeting; both in-person and virtual 
participation available. You may register for the webinar to listen-in 
only by visiting https://www.gulfcouncil.org and click on the Council 
meeting on the calendar.
    The timing and order in which agenda items are addressed may change 
as required to effectively address the issue, and the latest version 
along with other meeting materials will be posted on the website as 
they become available.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this group for discussion, in accordance with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action 
during these meeting. Actions will be restricted to those issues 
specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after 
publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided that the public has been 
notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the 
emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aid or accommodations should be directed to Kathy Pereira, 
(813) 348-1630, at least 15 days prior to the meeting date.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: January 5, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00363 Filed 1-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P